You've heard of gospel music. Well, Sharon Ewell Foster writes bestselling, award-winning gospel novels. Foster's books combine insight, faith, and literary style. As Bishop T.D. Jakes says, "To me, she is one of America's best-kept secrets-but not for long! Sharon writes for those of us who want more than just words on a page, but pictures painted on the canvasses of our minds. She has proven to be 'the Picasso of the pen!"

In books filled with adventure, mystery, hope and laughter, Foster speaks the truth about real-life situations with love. All this is set to poetic rhythms that stir the soul and get the heart pumping, "I'm a spiritual person. I stopped trying to hide it," says Foster. Her books speak to African-American traditions, yet resound with universal themes.

Born in Marshall, Texas, and raised in East St. Louis, Illinois, Sharon Ewell Foster is the only daughter of five children. She is herself the single mother of two-an adult daughter, Lanea, and a teenage son, Chase. "They are my first editors," she says. "My books are as much theirs as mine!"

The award-winning fiction author spent most of her adult life working for the Defense Department as an instructor, writer/editor, and logistician. "It was my great pleasure to train military and civilian students-broadcasters, journalists, graphic artists, photographers, videographers, and public affairs officers-in the art of instruction," says Foster. "I loved my job, and would still be there had I not felt an urgent call to write."

Her hope, Foster says, is to use fiction "to help all people live trurer lives-truer to what they believe, truer to what they hope to be." She feels compelled to make known the depth of God's love for all. "I want to comfort people and let them know there is hope-we should not give up on happy endings."

Writing Passing by Samaria, her bestselling first novel, she discovered that writing was the deep desire of her heart. In January 2002 she finally surrendered her Defense Department career to write, speak, and sing full time. Since that life-changing decision she has received a Christy Award for her first novel, and hit the Essence magazine bestseller list and Ain't No River, also a Christy finalist and a winner of the Golden Pen Award. Her latest thought-provoking novels are Riding Through Shadows and its sequel, Passing Into Light.

Throughout her life, Foster has been active in the church. She enjoys reading and music. "Just say 'sing' and I will break out into a song!" she warns. Swimming, sports, and art of all kinds are additional passions in her active life, Along with novel writing, she has contributed to Tavis Smiley's Keep the Faith and The Women of Color Devotional Bible, and she is also a regular contributor to Daily Guideposts devotionals.

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